The Riddle of Hume's Treatise
Skepticism, Naturalism, and Irreligion
Paul Russell
Reviews and Awards
Winner of the Journal of the History of Philosophy Prize for the Best Book on the History of Philosophy, 2008
"Paul Russell has given us a marvelously good book.... [He] offers original and compelling accounts of the irreligious implications of central arguments of the Treatise on an impressive range of topics....it should never again be claimed that the Treatise is largely unconcerned with questions of religion." - Don Garrett, Philosophical Review
"This book is a triumph and a model for work in the history of philosophy. It offers a powerful reading of the Treatise and of Hume's intentions in writing it, while also correcting common misunderstandings about Hume's place in early modern thought. It deserves to be read by anyone interested in Hume or in early modern philosophy." - Colin Heydt, Journal of the History of Philosophy
"Paul Russell's The Riddle of Hume's Treatise is one of the most important contributions to Hume scholarship of recent years, and deserves to be read by all who wish to untangle the complex threads of Hume's masterpiece. It ranks as a permanent and significant achievement." - Peter Millican, British Journal of the History of Philosophy
"This is a terrific tome.... Why is this book so important? Quite simply, this is one of the best contextualist studies of Hume's A Treatise of Human Nature ever written. To elaborate a bit, this book provides a unique and fascinating interpretation of the Treatise by relating its structure and content to many of the most influential debates about religion raging at Hume's time.... one of the best books on Hume I have ever read. " - Kevin Meeker, Mind